Distributing valve arrangement

ABSTRACT

A valve arrangement has first and second working cylinders for transporting a fluid mass, such as concrete. The working cylinders communicate with outlet conduits in a valve housing, and with inlet conduits in the same. A valve plate is movable between two positions, connecting alternately each working cylinder with an outlet conduit, while closing the respective inlet conduit.

United States Patent Bille 1 Mar. 7, 1972 [54] DISTRIBUTING VALVE ARRANGEMENT [72] Inventor: Heinz Bille, Dortmund, Germany 731 Assignee: Walter Scheele KG Maschinenfabrik,Mas-

sen/Unna, Germany [22] Filed: Oct. 20,1969

[2i] Appl.No.: 867,564

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 18, 1968 Germany ..P 18 03 819.2

[52] U.S.Cl ..4l7/517,4l7/900 [5 1] Int. Cl ..F04b 7/00, F04b 15/02 [58] FieldofSearch ..417/900,5l5,516,517,510

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,507,347 4/1970 Bennett :l7/900 R25,568 5/ l 964 Sherrod ..4 i 7/ 900 2,056,902 10/1936 Longenecker ..4 1 7/5 19 3,146,721 9/1964 Schwing ..417/900 3,266,435 8/1966 Smith ..417/900 3 ,465 ,685 9/1969 Sherrod ..4 l 7/ 900 Primary ExaminerRobert M. Walker Attamey--Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A valve arrangement has first and second working cylinders for transporting a fluid mass, such as concrete. The working cylinders communicate with outlet conduits in a valve housing, and with inlet conduits in the same. A valve plate is movable between two positions, connecting alternately each working cylinder with an outlet conduit, while closing the respective inlet conduit.

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PAIENIEBMAR '1 2 SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR! BY H Z L-L E Maj/KM DISTRIBUTING VALVE ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a distributing valve arrangement for the working cylinders of a hydraulic transporting means with a conduit in which doughlike or powdery masses, such as concrete are transported.

In accordance with the prior art, the inlets through which the material is supplied, and distributing valves for the outlets are arranged behind each other between the working cylinders and the outlets to the transporting conduit. This requires a special valve slide for each inlet in order to connect the respective working cylinders with the respective outlet conduit leading to the transporting conduit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to improve the apparatus according to the prior art serving this purpose and to provide a distributing valve arrangement of simple construction, short length, and having parts which can be easily exchanged and replaced.

With these objects in view, the present invention provides an arrangement in which outlet conduits to a transporting conduit, the inlets for the material, and the working cylinders of hydraulic transporting means are all connected to a valve housing in which a valve plate is mounted for transverse movement through the outlet conduits and inlet conduits in the region of the working cylinders.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises housing means having first and second outlet conduits leading to a transporting conduit, and first and second inlet conduits for the material communicating with the first and second outlet conduits, respectively; hydraulic transporting means including first and second working cylinders secured to the housing means and communicating with the first and second outlet conduits, respectively; and a distributing valve plate mounted in the housing means for movement between a first position and a second position.

In the first position, the valve plate closes the first inlet conduit and connects the first working cylinder with the first outlet while connecting the second inlet with the second working cylinder and closing the second outlet conduit. In the second position, the valve plate closes the second inlet conduit and connects the second working cylinder with the second outlet, while connecting the first inlet conduit with the first working cylinder and closing the first outlet conduit.

The housing means includes one housing part having the outlet and inlet conduits, and another housing part fixedly connected with the working cylinders and forming a guideway in which a valve plate is guided between the first and second positions. The housing part which has outlet and inlet conduits, is preferably pivotally mounted on the housing part which is connected to the stationary working cylinders.

The valve plate is part circular in one embodiment of the invention, and is shifted by operating means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a schematic plan view illustrating an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line lIIIIl in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line V-V in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line Vl-VI in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6, a powdery or doughlike material such as concrete or the like, is supplied in the usual manner to inlet conduits l in a housing 7 and is pressed by hydraulic transporting means including working cylinders 2 and 3 into two outlet conduits 5 and 6 which combine in a forked part 4 to form a transporting conduit.

Between working cylinders 2 and 3 and the forked outlet part 4 of the housing, only a single valve member, namely a distributing slide plate 8 is provided. The forked piece 4 directly project from housing 7, and has inner ends respectively located adjacent the inlets 1 for the material. As best seen in FIG. 4, the outlet conduits 5 and 6 directly communicate with the working cylinders 2 and 3.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the valve plate 8 is part circular and extends across outlet conduits 5 and 6 and.inlet conduits I in front of the ends 9 of the working cylinders 2 and 3. The part circular valve plate 8 includes two portions 8a and 8b respectively cooperating with the outlet conduits 5 and 6, and the respective inlet conduits and working cylinders.

The housing 7 of valve plate 8 has two housing parts 11 and 12 which engage each other in the region 13 as indicated in FIG. 3. The housing part 12 is fixedly connected with working cylinders 2 and 3 and has a guideway 14 in which valve plate 8 is mountedv for sliding movement. A movable housing part 11 carries the outlet conduits 5 and 6, and the inlet conduits I, and has a plate portion closing the guideway 14 so that the valve plate 8 is guided between the two housing parts.

Hinge means 15 are provided for mounting housing part 11 for angular movement on housing part 12, as best seen in FIG. 3. When the forked piece 4 is disconnected from a transporting conduit attached to its single outlet, in which the outlet conduits 5 and 6 end, and after the fastening bolt means 18 are opened, the housing part 11 with the forked piece 4 and the inlet conduits 1 can be shifted to the position indicated in broken lines on the left of FIG. 3 so that guideway I4 and valve plate 8 are accessible, and also the interior of housing part 11 and of forked piece can be checked.

The guideway 14 has a lining consisting of wear portions 16 and sealing portion 17 which alternate, and which are exchangeable.

A transverse bar connects the ends of the part circular valve plate 8, and is mounted on a journal 21 so that valve plate 8, 8a, 8b can be angularly displaced about the axis of journal 21. Piston rods 23 are connected by links 25 to the ends of bar 19, and are operated by pistons in cylinders 24 pivotally connected at 26 to the working cylinders 2 and 3, respectively. By operation of one of the cylinder and piston means 24, 23, the valve plate 8 can be shifted between first and second positions. As best seen in FIG. 4, portion 8b closes one of the inlet conduits I, and establishes communication between the working cylinder 3 and outlet conduit 6 through an opening 10. At the same time, the other inlet conduit 1 communicates with the end 9 of working cylinder 2, while outlet conduit 5 is closed by the portion 8a. In the second portion of valve plate 8, the conditions are reversed, and an opening 10 establishes communication between the working cylinder 3 and the outlet conduit 6.

The housing parts 11 and 12 and the valve plate 8 have a substantially conical shape so that the valve plate 8 extends transverse to the inlet conduits and outlet conduits.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of valve arrangements for hydraulically transported material differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a distributing valve including a valve plate enclosed in a housing, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Distributing valve arrangement for a hydraulically transported material, comprising, in combination, housing means forming a guideway and .having first and second outlet conduits and first and second inlet conduits located on one side of said guideway opening into the same; hydraulic transporting means including first 'and second working cylinders secured to said housing means and having first and second delivery openings, respectively, located on the other side of said guideway, opening into the same; and a single distributing valve plate mounted in said guideway guided for sliding movement' between a first position closing said first inlet conduit and connecting said first delivery opening with said first outlet while connecting said second inlet conduit with said second working cylinder and closing said second outlet conduit, and a second position closing said second inlet conduit and connecting said second delivery opening with said second outlet while connecting said first inlet conduit with said first working cylinder and closing said first outlet conduit.

2. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second outlet conduits have one pair of connected ends forming a transporting conduit; and wherein said first and second inlet conduits are located in said housing means adjacent the other pair of ends of said outlet conduits, respectively; and wherein said other pair of ends opens directly into said delivery openings of said working cylinders.

3. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second outlet conduits, and said working cylinders are located substantially in the same plane; wherein said first and second inlet conduits extend transverse to said plane; said housing means comprising mounting means for mounting said valve plate for movement substantially parallel with said plane.

4. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing means include two housing parts between which said guideway and said valve plate are located.

5. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing means include hinge means connecting said housing parts so that said one housing part is movable from a normal position abutting said other housing part to a servicing position in which said guideway and said valve plate are accessible in said other housing part, and the inner ends of said inlet and outlet conduits are accessible in said one housing part.

6. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing means include a lining in said guideway including wear resistant portions and sealing portions slidingly engaged by said valve plate.

7. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said valve plate is part circular.

8. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing means includes two housing parts abutting each other in a plane extending along a surface of said valve plate and forming said guideway; and wherein said valve plate is located between said two housing parts.

9. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve plate is curved and transverse to said inlets and outlets, and to said working cylinders.

10. Distributing valve arrangement for'a hydraulically trans ported material, comprising, in combination, housing means having first and second outlet conduits, and first and second inlet conduits for the material communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, respectively; hydraulic transporting means including first and second working cylinders secured to said housing means and communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, respectively; a single part circular distributing valve plate mounted in said housing means for movement between a first position closing said first inlet conduit and connecting said first working cylinder with said first'outlet while connecting said second inlet with said second working cylinder and closing said second outlet conduit, and a second position closing said second inlet conduit and connecting said second working cylinder with said second outlet while connecting said first inlet conduit withsaid first working cylinder and closing said first outlet conduit, said valve plate having two ends; and operating means for said valve plate connected to said ends for angularly displacing said valve plate between said first and second positions.

1 l. Distributing valve arrangement for a hydraulically transported material, comprising, in combination, housing means having first and second outlet conduits, and first and second inlet conduits for the material communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, respectively, said housing means including one housing part having said outlet conduits and said inlet conduits, and another housing part fixedly connected with said working cylinders and forming a guideway closed by said one housing part; hydraulic transporting means including first and second working cylinders secured to said housing means and communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, respectively; a single part circular distributing valve plate having a pair of ends and mounted in said guideway for movement between a first position closing said first inlet conduit and connecting said first working cylinder with said first outlet while connecting said second inlet with said second working cylinder and closing said second outlet conduit, and a second position closing said second inlet conduit and connecting said second working cylinder with said second outlet while connecting said first inlet conduit with said first working cylinder and closing said first outlet conduit comprising a bar connecting said ends; mounting means for mounting said bar and said valve plate for angular movement between said positions; and operating means for said valve means mounted on said working cylinders and connected with said bar in the region of said ends of said valve plate.

12. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11 wherein said valve plate is perpendicular to said working cylinders and to said outlets.

l3. Distributing valve arrangement for a hydraulically transported material, comprising, in combination, housing means having first and second outlet conduits located in a plane, and first and second inlet conduits for the material communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, respectively, ex tending transverse to said plane; hydraulic transporting means including first and second working cylinders secured to said housing means and communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, said first and second working cylinders being located substantially in said plane, respectively; a single, part circular distributing valve plate having openings; and mounting means for mounting said valve plate in said housing means for angular movement substantially parallel with said plane between a first position closing said first inlet conduit and connecting said first working cylinder with said first outlet through one opening while connecting said second inlet with said second working cylinder through an other opening and closing said second outlet conduit, and a second position closing said second inlet conduit and connecting said second working cylinder with said second outlet through said other opening while connecting said first inlet conduit with said first working cylinder through said one opening and closing said first outlet conduit. 

1. Distributing valve arrangement for a hydraulically transported material, comprising, in combination, housing means forming a guideway and having first and second outlet conduits and first and second inlet conduits located on one side of said guideway opening into the same; hydraulic transporting means including first and second working cylinders secured to said housing means and having first and second delivery openings, respectively, located on the other side of said guideway, opening into the same; and a single distributing valve plate mounted in said guideway guided for sliding movement between a first position closing said first inlet conduit and connecting said first delivery opening with said first outlet while connecting said second inlet conduit with said second working cylinder and closing said second outlet conduit, and a second position closing said second inlet conduit and connecting said second delivery opening with said second outlet while connecting said first inlet conduit with said first working cylinder and closing said first outlet conduit.
 2. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second outlet conduits have one pair of connected ends forming a transporting conduit; and wherein said first and second inlet conduits are located in said housing means adjacent the other pair of ends of said outlet conduits, respectively; and wherein said other pair of ends opens directly into said delivery openings of said working cylinders.
 3. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second outlet conduits, and said working cylinders are located substantially in the same plane; wherein said first and second inlet conduits extend transverse to said plane; said housing means comprising mounting means for mounting said valve plate for movement substantially parallel with said plane.
 4. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing means include two housing parts between which said guideway and said valve plate are located.
 5. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing means include hinge means connecting said housing parts so that said one housing part is movable from a normal position abutting said other housing part to a servicing position in which said guideway and said valve plate are accessible in said other housing part, and the inner ends of said inlet and outlet conduits are accessible in said one housing part.
 6. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing means include a lining in said guideway including wear resistant portions and sealing portions slidingly engaged by said valve plate.
 7. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve plate is part circular.
 8. Distributing valve arrangemenT as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing means includes two housing parts abutting each other in a plane extending along a surface of said valve plate and forming said guideway; and wherein said valve plate is located between said two housing parts.
 9. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve plate is curved and transverse to said inlets and outlets, and to said working cylinders.
 10. Distributing valve arrangement for a hydraulically transported material, comprising, in combination, housing means having first and second outlet conduits, and first and second inlet conduits for the material communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, respectively; hydraulic transporting means including first and second working cylinders secured to said housing means and communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, respectively; a single part circular distributing valve plate mounted in said housing means for movement between a first position closing said first inlet conduit and connecting said first working cylinder with said first outlet while connecting said second inlet with said second working cylinder and closing said second outlet conduit, and a second position closing said second inlet conduit and connecting said second working cylinder with said second outlet while connecting said first inlet conduit with said first working cylinder and closing said first outlet conduit, said valve plate having two ends; and operating means for said valve plate connected to said ends for angularly displacing said valve plate between said first and second positions.
 11. Distributing valve arrangement for a hydraulically transported material, comprising, in combination, housing means having first and second outlet conduits, and first and second inlet conduits for the material communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, respectively, said housing means including one housing part having said outlet conduits and said inlet conduits, and another housing part fixedly connected with said working cylinders and forming a guideway closed by said one housing part; hydraulic transporting means including first and second working cylinders secured to said housing means and communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, respectively; a single part circular distributing valve plate having a pair of ends and mounted in said guideway for movement between a first position closing said first inlet conduit and connecting said first working cylinder with said first outlet while connecting said second inlet with said second working cylinder and closing said second outlet conduit, and a second position closing said second inlet conduit and connecting said second working cylinder with said second outlet while connecting said first inlet conduit with said first working cylinder and closing said first outlet conduit comprising a bar connecting said ends; mounting means for mounting said bar and said valve plate for angular movement between said positions; and operating means for said valve means mounted on said working cylinders and connected with said bar in the region of said ends of said valve plate.
 12. Distributing valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11 wherein said valve plate is perpendicular to said working cylinders and to said outlets.
 13. Distributing valve arrangement for a hydraulically transported material, comprising, in combination, housing means having first and second outlet conduits located in a plane, and first and second inlet conduits for the material communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, respectively, extending transverse to said plane; hydraulic transporting means including first and second working cylinders secured to said housing means and communicating with said first and second outlet conduits, said first and second working cylinders being located substantially in said plane, respectively; a single, part circular distributing valve plate having openings; and mountinG means for mounting said valve plate in said housing means for angular movement substantially parallel with said plane between a first position closing said first inlet conduit and connecting said first working cylinder with said first outlet through one opening while connecting said second inlet with said second working cylinder through an other opening and closing said second outlet conduit, and a second position closing said second inlet conduit and connecting said second working cylinder with said second outlet through said other opening while connecting said first inlet conduit with said first working cylinder through said one opening and closing said first outlet conduit. 